SOUTH SUDAN / LOWCOCK HUMANITARIAN VISIT

15-May-2018
00:03:10

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, has begun a two-day visit to South Sudan to see first-hand the challenges faced by local communities and the aid workers who risk their own lives to provide desperately needed assistance. UNMISS

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1. Various shots, USG walking up to children with the signs at Protection of Civilian Site (POC)
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Marck Lowcock, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“It’s extremely difficult. It’s a little example of the multiple challenges as humanitarian agencies we have here in South Sudan. People are in here not because they want to be here but because they want to be safe. You saw the banners the children were holding up for me to see when I came in. What they want is peace and education. That’s what people want everywhere.”
3.Wide Shot, USG delegation walking to classroom at POC
4.Various Shots, Classroom
5.Various Shots, talking to a family in POC
6.Full Shot, USG leaves the tent
7.Close Up, Utensils through the torn tent
8.Full Shot, Bed in the tent
9.Various Shots, USG at Head of UNMISS’s residence
10. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Our peacekeepers have been out as much as they possibly can to instill some calm and confidence around the place but, nevertheless, what we are seeing on the ground is truly horrific. There are tukuls, huts, being burned, women are being raped, children are being killed. I saw a child that had been shot myself when I was there a couple of days ago and people are so scared that they fled for the swamps for safety or they have come to our base – about 3000 people are sitting right beside our base because it’s the only place they feel safe.”
11. Pan Left, Children at POC
12. Tilt Up, Medical care at POC
13. Med Shot, IDP taking medicine
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Marck Lowcock, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Last year we had to declare a famine in that part of the country and what we are trying desperately to avoid is a repeat of that. And so humanitarians are ready to go and help relieve the situation but it does require all sides to calm down the fighting and the conflict because what is going on there, as David said, is horrific and it needs to stop.”
15. Tracking Shot, convoy at POC
16. Tracking Shot, IDP tents

STORYLINE

The Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, has begun a two-day visit to South Sudan to see first-hand the challenges faced by local communities and the aid workers who risk their own lives to provide desperately needed assistance.

SOUNDBITE (English) Marck Lowcock, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“It’s extremely difficult. It’s a little example of the multiple challenges as humanitarian agencies we have here in South Sudan. People are in here not because they want to be here but because they want to be safe. You saw the banners the children were holding up for me to see when I came in. What they want is peace and education. That’s what people want everywhere."

Mark Lowcock, who is also the Emergency Relief Coordinator, visited a UN protection site to meet with some of those suffering in atrocious conditions after being displaced by ongoing violence.

A third of the South Sudanese population is displaced. About 1.8 million have fled their homes within the country while another 2.5 million have crossed to the border as refugees.

The humanitarian situation is dire. Without sustained humanitarian assistance, more than 7.1 million people could become severely food insecure in the coming months while 1.7 million are on the brink of catastrophe.

The USG also met with the leadership of the UN Mission in South Sudan to discuss the political and security situation, focusing on a recent surge in violence in Unity.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“Our peacekeepers have been out as much as they possibly can to instill some calm and confidence around the place but, nevertheless, what we are seeing on the ground is truly horrific. There are tukuls, huts, being burned, women are being raped, children are being killed. I saw a child that had been shot myself when I was there a couple of days ago and people are so scared that they fled for the swamps for safety or they have come to our base – about 3000 people are sitting right beside our base because it’s the only place they feel safe."

The UN Mission and humanitarians are working together to support those seeking sanctuary.

SOUNDBITE (English) Marck Lowcock, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Last year we had to declare a famine in that part of the country and what we are trying desperately to avoid is a repeat of that. And so humanitarians are ready to go and help relieve the situation but it does require all sides to calm down the fighting and the conflict because what is going on there, as David said, is horrific and it needs to stop."

Mark Lowcock will travel to the southern part of the country tomorrow, which is amongst the most dangerous areas for aid workers to operate within.